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Satanic display goes up at Florida Capitol

The Satanic Temple holiday display, down the hall from Gov. Scott's office.

The Satanic Temple holiday display, down the hall from Gov. Scott’s office.

Overcoming a devil of a time with state officials, the Satanic Temple mounted its holiday display Monday in the Florida Capitol Rotunda.

The diorama of an angel falling from cottony clouds into flames went up just down the hall from Gov. Rick Scott’s office. It’s in a spot adjacent to where until Monday morning, a manger scene had been placed by the Florida Prayer Network.

Like the Satanic display, the Nativity had been allowed by the state’s Department of Management Services to occupy the spot for a week.

“As long as the Nativity scene is going to be there, we’ll be here,” said John Porgal, an activist with the American Atheist Center, who helped place the display for the New York-based Satanic Temple.

The Satan group had it’s application for a display rejected last year by DMS, which found the proposal “grossly offensive.” But this year, the Satanic Temple reached out to Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a national advocacy organization, which threatened a lawsuit if Florida leaders denied the Satanists while giving other religious displays the green light.

Pam Olsen, of the Florida Prayer Network, said she came to the Capitol early Monday to remove her group’s larger Nativity display, replacing it with a small, framed picture depicting the familiar manger scene.

“I didn’t want to get into dueling displays with them,” Olsen said.

Also sharing the Rotunda space was a menorah, two displays put up by atheist groups and a Festivus pole inspired by TV’s Seinfeld show that is made out of empty Pabst Blue Ribbon cans.

A Panama City mother, visiting the Capitol with her two young daughters, said the plentiful holiday options carried a meaningful lesson this season.

“I think everybody has a right to have their own faith represented,” said Katie Clark, flanked by Willow, 12, and Sarah, 8. “That’s really what this is all about.”

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Rather idiotic. This "satanic" display actually depicts a scene from the bible, complete with the bible verse that describes when satan was kicked out of heaven. Why would atheists pull from the bible they say they don't believe in? Because they have nothing. You can't believe in satan and not believe in God. They are kind of a set. Atheists remain a very confused, angry bunch because deep down in their SPIRIT they know they are DEAD wrong.

Just shows the greatness of our country that we allow freedoms in every area of our lives. How people use their freedom is the obligation of a responsible citizenship to respond. I choose to ignore such ignorance and proclaim that this is the time to honor the birth of JESUS CHRIST.

Whatever your religious affiliation I think there is very little argument that we honor JESUS, a true symbol of Peace, which we could all use in our lives.